Friday, April 4, 2014

Men's Issues

Men’s Issues

Men in our society are often
socialized to follow a very rigid, traditional script with regard to the role
they are supposed to play and how they are supposed to act. Men are socialized
to believe they should be highly independent, to seek ways of gaining and
maintaining power in the world, to be tough, to conceal emotions (except for
anger), and to engage in non-relational sex. Men often experience significant stress
in their attempts to live up to the standards set by society. Problems arise
when males internalize stereotyped societal norms around gender ideals that are
often contradictory, inconsistent, and unattainable.

Research shows that rigid
enactment of traditional male gender role socialization is a negative influence
on well-being, and that the conflict that arises when men fail in their efforts
to live up to this “script” is predictive of psychological distress. Research
also suggests that the more one endorses stereotypical masculine beliefs,
the less willing they are to seek help. Two thirds of those seeking mental
health services are female and over the course of one’s lifetime 1 in 3 women
seek services as compared to 1 in 7 men. In other words, some of the men who
are most in need of help are also the least likely to seek it out.

There are things we as individuals
might do that unintentionally foster traditional gender roles. Do you, perhaps
without even realizing it: assume that a man who chooses other than a
traditional masculine role is somehow lacking? Encourage a stance of
independence and a distancing of emotions and feelings in relationships? Alienate
men by associating the ability to give care with weakness? Encourage and model
autonomy, success, and competition? Leave unchallenged the exaggerated
relationship between male sexual power and feelings of personal meaning and
importance in one’s life? Be aware of your own stereotypes and biases and
consider that one’s internalized gender ideology can change and that you can help the men you know progress from
traditional to less restrictive and sexist views.